Paranormal Romance
As lovely as the works of Anne Rice and Stephanie Meyer are, paranormal romance books extend far beyond vampires and witches of New Orleans and teenage entanglements involving vampires and shapeshifters. Inklings of what would define this genre actually began in 1764 with Horatio (Horace) Walpole's The Castle of Otranto and then in 1789 with Ann Radcliff's The Mysteries of Udolpho. Both books dealt with enduring romantic love despite dark, scary events and dangers, and they bore key subtitles: Walpole's was 'Gothic' and Radcliff's was 'Romance', two descriptors that ultimately became telltale elements of an exciting category of literature.
Mystery, enchantment, conflict, and relationships with witches, werewolves, vampires, and ghosts draw you into dalliances that are the perfect vicarious escape. Vintage paranormal romance books include standout classics such as Bram Stoker's Dracula and Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee and Ulalume poems. Any description in this genre of romance books can become filled with nuances, where you pay extra attention to the way the wind brings whispers, the eyes that read each other's souls, and the chains of events that become more than mere coincidences. Chief protagonists may be the elusive dashing gent, rugged bad boy, or captivating woman. Throw in family histories full of skeletons (literally and figuratively), secrets, curses, and love that endures lifetimes, and blend it with hints of science fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, and urban fantasy. Here too, you'll find the setting is often key, from grand plantations, castles, and Victorian homes, to city digs or remote farms.
When you're ready to buy paranormal romance books, take a look at the extensive selections available at AbeBooks. Discover the prolific series that explore the couplings of Lynsay Sands' Argeneau vampires, such as Love Bites and Tall, Dark, & Hungry, Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake adventures in tomes that include Circus of the Damned and The Killing Dance, and Gabriella Poole's The Darker Academy. New and gently worn options of heart-pumping, adrenaline-racing paranormal liaisons await.